Love County, Oklahoma – Early Thursday morning, a southbound semi‑truck veered into the median near the 21‑mile marker on Interstate 35, striking two passenger vehicles and sending traffic into a standstill. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) received the first calls around 8 a.m. and dispatched troopers to the scene.
“This morning we had reports of a semi‑truck that was driving all over the roadway,” said Lt. Walter Jack of OHP. The 83‑year‑old driver, Roy Cunningham of Paris, Texas, was taken to an Ardmore hospital. Two other occupants were flown to Denton Medical Center, and two more were transported to a local hospital, all listed as seriously injured. “No lives were lost, thankfully. They did an excellent job of extricating everybody,” Jack added.
Second crash compounds delays
While crews worked to clear the first wreck, a second incident unfolded farther south near the 11‑mile marker in the northbound lanes. Three semi‑trucks became involved in a chain‑reaction collision when one attempted to slow down, another rear‑ended it, and a third tried to swerve but ultimately struck the second truck. All three rigs left the roadway, and one additional driver sustained injuries.
“People just need to pay attention on these roadways, giving plenty of distance to the vehicles in front of them because you never know when traffic might just come to a grinding stop,” Lt. Jack warned.
Traffic restored after extensive cleanup
By 5:00 p.m., OHP announced that all northbound lanes of I‑35 were reopened, nine hours after the first crash began disrupting travel. Troopers reminded motorists to stay vigilant and to take advantage of the many traffic‑monitoring apps available today. “There’s a lot of apps out there that give live traffic conditions. I would suggest people utilize those and pay attention to those,” Jack said.
The incidents underscore the importance of safe driving practices on busy interstate corridors, especially for large commercial vehicles. OHP continues to monitor the highway and urges all drivers to maintain safe following distances, avoid distractions, and seek medical attention promptly if involved in an accident.
Original reporting: KXII News 12 (Gray) — read the source article.
